Our recent takedown in Far Rockaway resulted in the seizure of dangerous weapons and illicit drugs. Included among them was fentanyl - a powerful opioid that increases the risk of overdose and has driven record numbers of overdose deaths in New York City.
In Queens County, there were nearly five times as many deaths due to drug overdoses as there were homicides in 2020. An overwhelming majority of the fatal overdoses were attributed to fentanyl. It is a dangerous, lethal drug – and often people don’t even know they are taking it because it is mixed with heroin or cocaine or sold as pills.
When I first took office, I created the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau (VCE) to more effectively suppress violent crime and narcotics distribution operations in Queens County. This Bureau uses every resource available to ensure criminal networks, gang activity, and other organized operations run by drivers of crime are dismantled and that the drugs (and weapons) they peddle are taken off our streets.
As a community, we can also help prevent overdose deaths by learning the signs of an overdose, obtaining naloxone, offering to check on those at-risk, and reaching out for substance abuse assistance. For more information, I encourage you to visit the NYC Health website.
